Consistency Compounds for our RCSD Champions!

Balancing Fall Festivities and Wellness: Tips from Our School Superintendent

It feels like I’ve been waiting for the start of fall for an entire year – and I absolutely have! Fall signals the holidays are upon us. From our first order of a pumpkin spice latte to the fall festivities, it really is a wonderful time in education. Students and staff are deep into their lessons and curriculum and we can count the weekends until 2024!

What could possibly get us down this time of year? We’ve heard from some families that it could be concerns related to their children’s health (hello, sniffles) and school attendance. 

Some common scenarios that may arise include:

Seasonal Allergies: Fall and spring often bring about seasonal allergies, leading to symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. While these symptoms can be bothersome, they typically don’t require students to miss school unless they are severe and interfere with the child’s ability to concentrate or participate in class.

Common Colds: Colds are more prevalent during the fall and winter months. A mild cold with a runny nose and occasional cough usually doesn’t necessitate staying home from school. However, if the child has a fever, persistent cough, or other severe symptoms, it’s advisable to keep them home until they recover to prevent the spread of illness to others.

Flu Season: In the fall and winter, the flu season begins. It’s important for parents to be aware of symptoms and consult with a healthcare provider if necessary.

Other Health Issues: Some children may have chronic health conditions that can be exacerbated during seasonal changes. Parents of children with conditions like asthma or allergies should work closely with healthcare providers to manage these conditions effectively and ensure their children can attend school safely.

We know it can be confusing to know what to do when your little one isn’t feeling their best, so when in doubt, give their doctor a call and maintain open communication with schools. Being able to manage your child’s health means we can reduce the amount of time students miss school. And remember to keep our academic calendar handy to stay informed of no school days, holidays and weekends to help you coordinate your family’s natural ebbs and flows: https://www.rcsdk8.org/districtcalendar

Speaking of our calendar, fall also provides professional development opportunities for our educators, which is why RCSD has no school on Monday and Tuesday, October 30-31. On these days, our educators will gather to learn together and strengthen their Professional Learning Communities (PLC). The learning over these two days will include PLC data analysis to support student achievement, as well as learning and reflection on Tier I Small Groups, Essential Standards, and English Language Development.

So, here’s to fall, our RCSD Champions, our health, and the holidays!